Taber, Alberta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Town of Taber | |
| Motto: Land of the Long Sun | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Alberta |
| Region | Southern Alberta |
| Census division | 2 |
| Municipal District | Taber |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Ray Bryant |
| - Governing body | Taber Town Council |
| - MLA | Paul Hinman (AA) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 15.09 km² (5.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 815 m (2,674 ft) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| - Total | 7,591 |
| - Density | 503.2/km² (1,303.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | MST (UTC-7) |
| Postal code span | T1G |
| Highways | Highway 3 Highway 36 |
| Waterway | Oldman River |
| Website: Town of Taber | |
Taber is a town in southern Alberta, Canada in Municipal District of Taber. Taber was established in the late 1890s by European settlers on the banks of the lower Oldman River. It is an agricultural town of 7,591 (2006) famous for its corn due to the large amounts of sunshine the town and area receive. It has thus taken on the title Corn Capital of Canada, and has an annual "Cornfest" held in the last week of August.
Taber and Notogawa, Japan are sister towns.
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[edit] History
Originally, Taber was known as "Tank No. 77," and was used by the railway to fill up on water. In 1903, it is said that the first Mormon settlers from the U.S.A. were the ones to establish a hamlet at the Tank. After the town's post office was built in 1907, the CPR decided to call the town "Tabor," probably after Mount Tabor in Palestine. However, various letters and station heads came out printed "Taber," so the CPR changed the name to make it match the records.
An alternate version of the towns name origin is that the first part of the word tabernacle was used by Mormon settlers in the vicinity, and the next Canadian Pacific Railway station was named Elcan (nacle spelled backwards).
After time, Taber became a successful coal mining town. Coal mining declined in the late 1920s, but picked up in the 1930s after extensive irrigation in the area.
Irrigation helped not only the coal-miners, it also brought with it the production of sugar beets. In 1950, a sugar beet processing plant (Roger's Sugar) was built, which has become a vital part of the town's economy.
On April 28, 1999, Taber gained notoriety due to the W. R. Myers High School shooting[2] in which a 14-year-old entered W.R. Myers High School and shot two students with a .22 calibre rifle, killing Jason Lang and wounding another.
[edit] Demographics
In 2006, Taber had a population of 7,591 living in 3,034 dwellings, a -1.0% increase from 2001. The town has a land area of 15.09 km² (5.8 sq mi) and a population density of 503.2/km² (1,303.3/sq mi).[1]
[edit] Economy
Taber's economy is largely based on agriculture. Local produce includes hogs, beef, sheep, poultry, sugar beets, potatoes, peas, carrots, wheat, sand/gravel, flax, barley, corn, beans, oats, onions, canola and mustard. Taber's sugar beet processing plant (Roger's Sugar) plays a vital role in the economy. There are also several food processing companies based in the town, including a Frito-Lay factory, which produces various snack products for much of Western Canada. To a smaller extent, there is also a significant oil and gas component to the economy.
[edit] Education
Grades Kindergarten through 12 are administered in Taber by the Horizon School Division and Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Division. Taber has a Christian School for grades 1 through 9. Other education systems include Community Adult Learning Council, ACE Place Learning Center and a Career Resource Center. There is a Taber campus for the Lethbridge College.[3]
[edit] Cornfest
Cornfest is an annual summer festival held in late August, and it includes a midway (rides, booths, and tests of skill) and a stage with performers.[4] There are also corn-based activities, such as corn tasting and stuffing. Large-scale, local corn producers enter their best varieties in the 'Best Corn of the Year' award.
Corn stuffing involves two people, one wearing an over-sized coverall. One of the contestants attempts to stuff as much corn as possible into the other's coverall. Whichever team can put the most corn in the coveralls in the allotted time wins.
Awsome Sauce! Cornfest is without a doubt the greatest summer event in Canada!
[edit] References
- ^ a b Statistics Canada (Census 2006). Taber - Community Profile. Retrieved on 2007-06-13.
- ^ CBC News. Taber school shooting information
- ^ "Taber School List". Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ Taber Chamber of Commerce. Cornfest 2004 website
[edit] External links
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Picture Butte | Vauxhall | Redcliff |
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| Stirling | Warner | Foremost |
